Glove-stretcher.



C. L. MoBRIDE. GLOVE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

Patented Mar. 16, I909.

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CHARLES L. MCBRIDE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

GLOYE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed August 20, 1906. Serial No. 331,243.

a do declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to. make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which-form a part of this specification.

My invention relatesto a glove stretching device known to the trade asjga laying off board, and is intended to be used by manufacturers of gloves. After the parts of a glove are sewed together the fingers are placed over a form and are stretched. This stretching, besides smoothing the seams, contributes largely to giving the glove the exact required size or number. If the form onwhich the glove is stretched be sufliciently heated the work is expedited and the cloth or other material of which the glove is made is given a set-which causes the glove to retain the size to which it has been stretched.-

The object of my invention is to provide a stretching .device for gloves, consisting of a pair of pivotally connected coincident halfforms over which the glove is. slipped, and which forms will, by tl eir own movement, automatically stretch the fingers of the glove as may be required, and in which-the point to which the glove is to be stretched may be instantly fixed, determined, and controlled so that all gloves stretched on the device shall exactly conform toany required size to which-the machine may be set 'or adjusted.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cheap, siin )le, and highly eflicient and easily controlled means for heating the forms employed in my device.

By obvious modifications my invention ma also be used in stretching mittens.

attain these objects by means of the de vices and arrangement of described and shown, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an edge-elevation of my glove stretcher; Fig. 2, an inner side-elevation of one of the finger-plates hereinafter referred to, with the lining removed, and Fig. 3, a

parts hereinafter top-plan view of my device, partly in section ta en on line xx'Fig. 1.

Like numerals of referenceindicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, 1 is a base-plate adapted to be secured to a table. Projecting upwardly from the top of the plate near each side-margin is a' lug 2 between which lugs is pivotally mounted, as at 3, a finger-plate 4,

formed at its upper end to conform to onehalf of the interior of an unstretched glove, minus the thumb, the stretching of the thumb portion being performed by a separate operation.

5 is a corresponding finger-plate opposed to the plate 4 and formed so that when the two plates, near their upper ends or tips are brought together, they exactly conform to and fill the fingers of the glove to be stretched. The plate 5 is pivotally secured to the plate 4, as at 6, about midwa between the u per and lower ends of the p ates. This pivota connection is so arranged and adjusted that the )late 5 may be tilted upon the pivot 6 insuc manner that the'tips of the finger portion of the Cplate may be bro ht together or separate as far as may be desired, within certain liinits.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the olate near its rear margin, or toward the side arthest from the operator, is a rest 7 the top of which forms a stop for the plate 4 when it is tilted bachwardly on its ivot 3 or away from the-operator, at an ang e of about fortyfiye degrees. Secured to or formed integral with the top of the base, at the side opposite the rest 7, is a housing or guide 8 in which slides horizontall a stop-block 9. This is engaged by an a justing screw 10 mounted and rotatable in a bracket 11 projecting u wardly from the housing 8. By means of the adjusting screw 10 the stop-block 9 is moved to and held at exactly the required distance from the swinging finger-plates. The inner face of the block 9 lies in the path of the lower end of the plate 5 when the latter plate is swung with its mate upon the pivot 3. Upon the housing 8 is a aduated numbered scale 12 and upon the b ock is an index-line 13. By turning the adjusting screw 10 the index-line '13 ma be caused to register with either of the mar s on the graduated scale so Y Y tip-endsof the plates exactl indicated by the scale and-in ex.

- brought into coincidence with the to the extent The plates 4 and 5 are formed preferably of stamped sheet metaland are concaved transversely with the concave faces facing each other. Within the hollow of each of the finger-plates is disposed an electric heating coil 14, resistance the windings of which extend into the fingers of the forms, as shown, the terminals of each coil passing to the binding posts 15 and thence to a suitable source of electricity. In'practice, the outleading and inleading wires are connected with the usual plug adapted to be screwed into an incandescent lam -socket. The hollow of each of the finger-p ates is closed-with a lining 16 which protects the .coils and secures them in place. The coils are of such resistance that the ordinary incandescent lamp circuit gen erates suflicient heat in the coils and theplates for the purpose designated.

The operation of my device is as follows: The plate 1 being properly secured to its table so that the stop-b ock 9 is nearest to the operator; the stop-block 9 with its index-line having, by means of the screw 10, been roper mark on the graduated sca1e,'and the p ates 4 and 5. having been, by the electric coil,

' brought to the proper temperature, the two plates4 and 5 are tllted forwardly by the operator into inclined position so that they rest ulpon the part 7. The glove to be stretched is s 1p the nger portions of which are now in contact and in closed relation and which are readily slipped into the fingers of the glove. The operator now swings the stretcher upon the pivot 3 into upright position. As the plates 45 swing forwardly the lower end of the or equivalent conductor having suitable red over the upper end of the plates 4-5,

1 plate comes in contact with the block 9 pressmg the lower ends of the two lates together and swinging the upper ends 0? the two plates asunder upon the pivot 6, thus automatically separating the finger-tips and stretching the dicated by the index-line 13 and the graduated scale 12. The plates are next thrown against the rest 7 so that by their own weight the tips of the plates come together, thus permittin the glove to be readily withdrawn. It wil be seen that the slight flexible insulated wires leading to and'from the heaters readily yield to the movements of the two plates.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, I

1. In a device of the describedcharacter, a

finger-plate, a stop which limits the swing of the la'tter plate upon its pivot, a graduated scale, and means for adjusting the the stop in relation to said scale.

2. In a device of the described character, a pair. of pivotally supported plates conforming 1n outline to a glove, each of said lates having a hollow hand-portion and ho ow fingerportions, indepen ent electric conductors dis osed in the cavities of said handortions an finger-portions of each pivota 1y supported plate and of suitable resistance for heating the plates, and means for placing said conductors 111 circuit with a source of electricity.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

CHARLES L. MCBRIDE.

Witnesses:

CLEM V. WAGNER, ADA LAW.

fingers of the glove exactly to the extent in finger-plate, a pivotally supported opposed position of 

